Nationalism, sovereignty and independence are words that litter our newspapers, TV discussion shows and radio phone-ins with monotonous regularity, every time the EU issue raises its head and many a time when it doesn't.

The trouble with hearing these phrases being spouted on call, as it were, is that they can lose their real meaning, and risk becoming nothing but buzzwords. Or, worse still, they are adopted or perhaps kidnapped by rhetoricians and opinion writers who have little knowledge, or even much interest in what they really stand for, but simply decide to use them for their own means.

Why am I making this point, you may ask?

Because rarely have I seen a better example of ambivalence than the attitude towards nationalism, or, more accurately, national pride, than in certain aspects of life here in Malta.

National pride as a subject is often waxed lyrical and done to death on a platform at a political rally.

It serves as the perfect crowd-igniter when bringing up issues that are simultaneously beefy, yet intangible, such as independence and sovereignty.

But I cannot help asking why that same national pride seems to dissolve at a level that is admittedly more mundane, but can be viewed as equally important.

Where is that feeling of loyalty and patriotism when the country's football team needs supporting, or when we get down to the nitty gritty of deciding who is going to finance the clean-up and more that the island so desperately needs?

One example comes vividly to mind; last September's airshow.

I was covering the event myself and was interested to hear that after the display to be given by the world-renowned Red Arrows, there would be a show by a Maltese aerobatic team. The commentator making the announcement told us how prestigious this event was, how hard the three Maltese pilots had worked and encouraged the spectators to give them a round of applause as they took to the skies.

As I stood in the press enclosure making sure I jotted down the name of the Maltese pilot leading the team, with a view to requesting an interview with him after the event, what did I witness? Rather than reeiving backing from their nation, those men were given their nation's backs - the spectators turned away and started heading for the exit.

Granted, as the pilot, George Abela, told me afterwards, it was not a particularly clever idea to put the Maltese team on after the UK's most talented aerobatics; in Mr Abela's wonderful words: "Even the angels would have trouble flying after the Red Arrows."

But to leave instead of cheering on your own lads? Or worse still, as I can testify, make fun of them? I even overheard sick jokes made by people who were homeward bound that they wouldn't be surprised if the Maltese pilots crashed. Would you believe it?

National football, or the lack of support for it, is a subject that has been done to death over the years, but still worth a mention at this juncture, surely.

When we publish our sports photographs, just as noticeable as the action in the picture is the stand behind the players which is almost always deserted.

The only exceptions I have witnessed to this scene are when certain teams with an irrationally, illogically large following on Maltese soil have decided to grace us with their presence, which they do purely for their own publicity and financial purposes, I can assure you.

During the last friendlies and world cup qualifiers at Ta' Qali, for example, I was informed that the Swedish fans, who had flown over specially for the event, outdid the Maltese spectators in embarrassing numbers. Comments damning the performance of the Maltese side were probably based on the final score rather than on a firsthand witness of the game, on the grounds that both England and Italy were playing in matches being relayed on TV that night, so most football enthusiasts' attention was undoubtedly channelled elsewhere.

I find the fact that Malta is unlikely to qualify for any major international football competition an inconceivable reason for not supporting the national team. In the same way I view supporting a team because it tends to win matches and leagues regularly just as unfathomable, although this seems to be the criteria for many who support Manchester United. The only other stipulation appears to be that you live outside of Manchester, but I'd better not take that point any further, for fear of red devil retribution, and I digress anywayÖ

The point I'm making is that as most nations will tell you, they might lament the matches when their lads let them down, but they support their team irrespective of performance.

England is a prime example of this. Its national football team has certainly seen better days - one day, actually, in 1966. And many say that part of its problem is that it still lives in that era, resting on a very false vision that it is still up there with other teams that are of a world class status, while the truth is that it has been struggling for some time.

Only now is England making the massive spring clean of fusty players that many believe is long overdue, alongside the even more drastic measure of appointing a foreign coach.

But that has never affected the fan base.

And where is our national pride when it comes to the look of the island, or, more importantly, the issue of who is going to pay for it?

The vast majority of us moan about the state of the island and say we would like to see something done about it. But just look at the reactions that come tumbling from the fax machines of the constituted bodies when anyone in authority dares to outline measures to collect more revenue.

Everyone wants the island to look better, providing they don't personally have to fork out any more for it, so it seems.

There seems to be a philosophy that one's own money goes on the upkeep of what is only on the inside of a front door, or perhaps also the inside of a garage - a garage big enough to house a boat, as well as two cars, in many cases.

Perhaps the question we should be asking is why we are so selective about where we direct our national pride. It's always easier to expound on the intangible than the tangible, admittedly, and an oratory brimming with nationalistic fervour would certainly be no exception. But there are some very real people out there waving the Maltese flag on the nation's behalf that deserve our support, not our indifference, and certainly not our derisory comments.